The 2014 Formula One season may have only just got going, but Ferrari is already playing catch up.

That's the view of technical director James Allison, who admits the legendary Italian marque is some way behind early pacesetters Mercedes, labeling Ferrari's performance in Sunday's opening race as "unacceptable."

While Mercedes enjoyed a fruitful preseason and took the checkered flag at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix through Nico Rosberg, Ferrari struggled by comparison.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso was the team's highest-placed driver in fourth position, but the Spaniard finished over 30 seconds behind the victorious Rosberg.

"While we can take some satisfaction from the reliability shown by the F14T, it is clear that we have our work cut out to improve our car in order to compete on equal terms with the Mercedes team," Allen told the team's official website.

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener 7 photos

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener7 photos

Triumphant Rosberg – A jubilant Nico Rosberg celebrates his superb victory in the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne.

Hide Caption

1 of 7

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener7 photos

Vettel woe – It was a gloomy opening to the season for four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel after he was forced to retire early in his Red Bull.

Hide Caption

2 of 7

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener7 photos

Splendid isolation – Rosberg drove a faultless race to claim the opening grand prix of the F1 season in Australia by over 20 seconds.

Hide Caption

3 of 7

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener7 photos

Hero to zero – An ecstatic Daniel Ricciardo delighted the home crowd by claiming second place for Red Bull on his debut for the team. But his day was ruined after he was later disqualified for breaching fuel consumptions

Hide Caption

4 of 7

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener7 photos

Great Dane – Kevin Magnussen receives the plaudits of his McLaren team after a stunning drive to finish on the podium on his F1 debut.

Hide Caption

5 of 7

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener7 photos

Powerless Hamilton – Cars bunch up behind Lewis Hamilton who quickly slipped back through the field from pole and retired after three laps with an engine power fault.

Hide Caption

6 of 7

Rosberg takes F1 season-opener7 photos

Controversial incident – Felipe Massa and Kamui Kobayashi come to grief on the first corner of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Kobayashi took the blame for the incident which left Massa fuming.

Hide Caption

7 of 7

EXPAND GALLERY

Start your engines... 8 photos

Start your engines...8 photos

Start your engines... – The 2014 Formula One season begins in Australia on March 16. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed a productive preseason, topping the timesheets on the final day of the closing test event in Bahrain.

Hide Caption

1 of 8

Start your engines...8 photos

Teething problems – A raft of regulation changes have been introduced for 2014, including the return of turbo-powered engines. Renault's engines completed the fewest laps during preseason, meaning it was a frustrating series of tests for Red Bull and quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Hide Caption

2 of 8

Start your engines...8 photos

The ugliest F1 cars ever? – The 2014 F1 cars feature one controversial modification. This year they sport droopy, "anteater" noses, and have been branded the ugliest in the sport's history.

Hide Caption

3 of 8

Start your engines...8 photos

A winning Williams? – Williams struggled last year but hopes are high for the nine-time world champion after an impressive preseason, led by new signing Felipe Massa. The former Ferrari driver recorded the fastest lap time at the final test in Bahrain.

Hide Caption

4 of 8

Start your engines...8 photos

Ferrari's dream team? – Ferrari enters the 2014 season with a formidable pairing of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and the returning Kimi Raikkonen -- the last driver to win the title for the Italian manufacturer back in 2007.

Hide Caption

5 of 8

Start your engines...8 photos

Rookies raring to go – Three rookies will line up in Melbourne. Denmark's Kevin Magnussen (pictured) debuts for McLaren while Sweden's Marcus Ericsson makes his bow at Caterham and Russian Daniil Kvyat comes in at Toro Rosso.

Hide Caption

6 of 8

Start your engines...8 photos

All change – Changes have also taken place off the grid, with Eric Boullier (pictured) leaving Lotus to become race director at McLaren, which is yet to replace team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

Hide Caption

7 of 8

Start your engines...8 photos

Double your money – The final race of 2014 has more at stake than ever, with double points on offer in Abu Dhabi. Whoever takes the checkered flag at the Yas Marina Circuit will pocket a potentially title-winning 50 points.

Hide Caption

8 of 8

EXPAND GALLERY

Just Watched

F1's big design changes

Alonso finished Sunday's race in fifth position, but he was elevated to fourth place after Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo -- who crossed the line in second -- was disqualified for breaching fuel flow regulations.

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, who is starting his second spell as a Ferrari driver after winning the team's last drivers' championship in 2007, finished seventh.